Writers strike

I'd like to believe that I am not the only 'series buff' there is! I'm sure there's someone out there who feels my frustration. The writers strike is affecting everything good on tv, I mean just take a look; Heroes, Desperate Housewives, Smallville, Nip Tuck, House, Prison Break, Ugly Betty, The Tonight Show, to name a few. A friend of mine was telling me the other day bout how he wants to write a book so that, he wouldn't be so dependent on these series and the way make our blood pressure rise up. Thats on of the best ideas I've heard in a while. Why dont we all become writers and then, we'll switch our stories amongst ourselves. Then we wouldnt be affected by the writers strike.

The strike has been on since the 5th of November, one of the issues is more money for work that goes into new media, such as DVD's or online TV. Now, I'm one for equity and all, but why do people always crave more money.

More money brings more problems. Now they are asking for money from new media, soon they'll ask for money from shows downloaded on limewire or something. Well, this isn't my battle, so I think I'll go ahead with the suggestion given by my buddy...I'll write my own series or better yet, you write yours and send it to me to read!

End of year blues

We've come to that time of the year, where we are forced to look back and analyze our successes and failures during the year. Unfortunately, no amount of ifs can change the outcome of our actions, what we can do is to plan for the next year and try our best to stick to our decisions. Don't get me wrong...I am not an advocate for 'new year resolutions', I believe that they are just rituals or should I say rules that we make for ourselves, only to fall short and feel bad.

Let your resolution this coming year be no more resolutions, down with the practice of self dejection and pacification. Personally, I have taken my diary out and written down what I want to achieve next year, and the steps I need to take to get there. I'm stepping out of the blues...lol, I sure had a really blue year, but thats another story, lets leave that for the last weeks in the year, and I promise you a summary of my experience this year.

However, What is most important is that we have things to be grateful for, I believe that no matter how miserable life has been so far, there must have been days when you smiled, days when you laughed so hard that you farted and even laughed some more...those were the days.

I'm going to end on this note, make the best of today, cause that is really all we have control off. Stop worrying, stop contriving, let go of past baggage. When you go to sleep tonight, smile and say thank you for the opportunity to go to sleep at night.

New president...'New hope'????

On the 29th of May 2007, President Umaru Yar’Adua stood on a podium in Abuja and swore to serve Nigeria faithfully and by example. He declared that he would be a “servant leader” by calling for the revival of values such as “honesty, decency, generosity, modesty, selflessness, transparency and accountability”.

Goodluck Jonathan who hails from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria was sworn in as vice-president. His presence in Aso Rock the seat of power would be very instrumental towards solving the Niger Delta crisis.

The president came out with a seven- point agenda that has at the top of its list power reform. He has declared a state of emergency in the power sector. Also included on his list is education, health and poverty alleviation. He said, “public schools and public hospitals have to be salvaged and developed for the majority of the people who cannot afford the prohibitive costs charged by private investors in the life-demanding sectors.”

A weakness that has plagued previous governments is when they fail to follow up on the projects embarked on by their predecessors. In this light Yar'Adua harped on “continuity and change”; continuity in areas like macro-economic stability and change in areas like the Niger Delta situation.

Yar’Adua’s message also embodied a sympathetic action towards the Niger Delta crisis. He has learnt from the mistakes of his predecessor by saying that, ‘though there might be criminals profiting from the legitimate protest of a cheated group; unless you remove the basis of the agitation it would be impossible to separate criminals from genuine agitators.” His approach hit at the root of the problem of developmental challenge. His plea is that the militants test the sincerity of the new administration and treat his concern with enthusiasm.

Not disregarding the allegations that his election was marred with irregularities, he promised to conduct an enquiry into the election process. Irrespective of this however, he wastes no time in putting his pledges into action to rebate the looming crisis in Nigeria as a whole.

Though the swearing in process went successfully, there was a lot of military presence both in Abuja and Lagos. Hundreds of protesters rallied in Lagos, they mourned the death of democracy. The riots symbolised the mock burial of outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo.

To a country in desperate need of national rejuvenation, President Yar’Adua added, “We must act at all times with humanity, courage, and forthrightness. I ask you fellow citizens, to join me in rebuilding our Nigerian family, one that defines the success of one by the happiness of many”.

my alter ego

Take the Nip / Tuck personality quiz to see which character you are!

Cheesy round-ups

You know those last scenes in tv series like 'greys anatomy', 'Boston legal', 'scrubs',etc, that just make you want to cry. I was just watching season 1 episode 10 of boston legal and the most interesting part of the episode was that last cheesy line about death.
At the end of the day, when you think about it, its 'who you love and not who loves you that is important'. I had a chat with a close friend of mine this morning, we have been fighting for the past two weeks and things have just been going from bad to worst. My complain was, I felt alone and rejected.
Maybe what I was really feeling was myself slipping away from him. There's only so much you can take from friendship. Even when you promise all your affection to someone, when it rains and you get wet it just takes alot of time to get your clothes dry. Well enough of the banter.

Earlier this week, the west celebrated the anniversary of slave trade.'Celebrated'if I must say. There were people on the streets of London holding placards saying Tony Blair should apologise for slave trade. apologise? pls tell me something that can really make sense.

Although we don't legally have slave fairs, its still happening illegally. I mean if you really want to apologise for something, then let your actions show your thoughts. The wests glory today is founded upon slave blood. The tube stations, the planes, the roads, the buildings, technology etc.

So if you really are sorry, then you can atleast give back some of your wealth to developing nations. now I am not talking about loans from the world bank. i am talking of setting up projects in countries. Its no secret the number of international students that come into the west yearly. In 2005 alone, there were 318,395 foreign students admitted into the UK.

Now just for figures on average each student pays £10,000 imagine £3,183,950,000. I cant even say what the number is, I get lost after a million. This money on the other hand can be used to fund university's in developing countries so tht we can retain our students and also develop our education system. Sadly, some of these students do not return home after their education hence good qualification is lost to the west again.

Have you seen 'blood diamond' you may think its fiction but if you take a deep thought it isnt. Such extremities are still in play today. Do shed some thoughts on this topic.

the winding time

Do you ever feel like there is never enough time? You wake up early, off to work break for lunch, back to work and get home late. Then the same old routine starts again the next day. It's like we are enslaved to work, to time, to eternity.

Even what matters to you really doesnt. Cos time knows how to get rid of acquintances. You may be the best at your job but once you are gone, someone better would take over.

Global warming! Humans always find a way to create a beast. But the question is do we really care what happens to the earth. Even the most dedicated earth police still add to the global crisis. Try spending a week without electricity or water. Sound extreme...to you maybe yes, but to me...NO.

Back in Nigeria where I come from staying a year without electricity is normal...Ok, maybe I exagerate a little, staying a month without electricity and water is no big deal. Luckily, when you are faced with life's struggles, you always find a way to come out on top.

Then, you begin to enjoy natures gifts, moonlight, sunshine, rivers, streams...the list goes on. There's a force behind humanity, a spirit of perseverance, the spirit of determination. You have the choice to use it for good deeds or bad ones. Whatever you choose...be the best at what you do, time wont always be on your side.

Back in business...are we trully independent?

Firstly, I want to welcome you to the new and revised Jamie blog. This is a medium for young people to air their views. I am also the editor in chief of Jamie magazine; so if at any point you feel you have a message/story that you’d like to publish, do let me know. Feel free to leave your comments here. I should also say that, I’m not liable for the comments on this site. If you like what you read, please spread the news to your friends. It’s all about networking.

First things first, I need to get this off my chest:
According to www.sunnewsonline.com the United States has asked the Nigerian government to allow as many candidates as possible to run in next months elections as a practical demonstration of commitment to democratic principles and rule of law, good suggestion but on what grounds?

All this seems a little dodgy, first question…’what’s their business in Nigerian politics, I have not heard the government of Nigeria telling them how many candidates should contest in the states next election.

I wrote an article last week on www.interviewmag.com and I received a lot of comments on the topic. The article was on the same-sex bill that is to be passed in Nigeria within the next 2 months. This bill denounces same-sex relationships, and also introduces a legal punishment for homosexuals. Also anyone who is involved in public advocacy or associations supporting the rights of lesbian and gay people would be subject to 5 years imprisonment.

Now the US state department condemned the proposed bill saying that it was against the rule of law and fundamental human rights. The international human rights group also signed a letter condemning the bill.

Back to the US’s first suggestion that Nigeria should be committed to democracy, if the majority of parliament who represent Nigeria ok the bill, ‘so be it’. The parliament represents the Nigerian people and their decisions are binding irrespective of what the US thinks. If we needed permission to make our laws, we would not have fought for our independence.

I simply find I annoying that the west cant seem to get enough from controlling Africa. If its not advice about elections, it would be on homosexuals. If it’s neither of the two it would be on global warming, …which on its own is a whole new topic; I’ll save it for another day.